Sefko: Lack of success on the boards dooms Mavericks in overtime

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Tom Fox/Staff Photographer

Golden State Warriors shooting guard Stephen Curry (30) has the ball knocked away from him by Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Dahntay Jones (30) in the second half at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Monday, November 19, 2012. The Mavericks lost in overtime 105-101.

If the Mavericks weren’t crushed so thoroughly in the rebounding department Monday night, they would be zeroing in on their pitiful defense in overtime against Golden State guard Steph Curry.

As it was, their failure to trap the quick Curry, who went off for 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, simply put a dismal lid on a horrible evening.

The Warriors took down the Mavericks, 105-101, at American Airlines Center even though there were many reasons why the Mavericks should have had a slew of advantages.

Golden State was playing for the third time in four nights on the road and had been beaten in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. The Warriors started two rookies on the front line, as well as veteran David Lee.

That trio combined for 39 rebounds and led a complete humiliation on the boards as the Mavericks were beaten, 62-43. It was the fourth time this season the Mavericks have been beaten on the boards by at least 10.

The Mavericks went to Vince Carter for two jump shots in the final two minutes of regulation, neither of which went down. This came after Carter had left the game earlier in the fourth quarter when he tweaked his hamstring.

Then, in the overtime, the Mavericks got 11 points from O.J. Mayo and none from anybody else. They couldn’t stop Curry’s penetration as he dismantled whatever defense it was that the Mavericks were trying to play.

And all that paled to the rebounding problems.

“All I can do is look at 62-43 and that’s the number that lost the game for us,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We were minus every period, except one. We were plus-3 in the fourth. But we were minus-3, minus-11, minus-3 and minus-5 in the overtime.

“That’s the root of a lot of our problems. It’s possession of the ball that’s hurting us. We got to get five guys in there every single time. It’s got to be part of who we are.”

The Warriors are one of the teams in the Western Conference that the Mavericks probably will be battling with all season for survival. Both were among the six teams in the West that were within a game of .500 going into action Monday.

In the overtime, Curry carried the Warriors in the extra period. After both teams had botched chances to win in regulation, the Warriors scored seven quick points to start overtime and put the pressure on the Mavericks.

If the Mavericks ever wanted proof that their defense can save them, they got it on the next three possessions when Golden State suffered a shot-clock violation and two poor shot attempts. Mayo scored three times to tie the game.

Curry, who pretty much was unstoppable late, was fouled by Darren Collison and hit two free throws. Mayo again came through with a driving jumper to tie it with 41.2 left.

Curry again broke down the defense and dished to a wide-open Lee for a layup and 101-99 lead with 32.7 still showing.

But the Mavericks couldn’t get a decent shot with Shawn Marion missing a corner jumper. Curry hit two more free throws, and the Mavericks were done.

“We couldn’t guard him,” Marion said of Curry. “We were supposed to be trapping him and it was non-existent. He was able to do anything he wanted to do on the floor.”

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